Cat foods are currently available in a variety of specialized formulas. There are foods for sensitive stomachs, hairball issues and overweight cats; for adult cats and kittens; and for "multi-cat" households. This means that pet owners can now easily find foods that meet the nutritional needs of most cats.

Before your favorite quality cat food gets to your pet’s bowl, it goes through a complex development process, during which pet food researchers, nutritionists and scientists figure out the best recipes.

Felines are true carnivores, so your cat needs meat. We, humans, on the other hand – along with our dog friends – are omnivores. This means we can survive on both animal and plant foods. But because of its physiology, a cat requires animal-based proteins and certain essential amino acids contained in meat protein in order to survive.

Canned or bagged, wet or dry: These are basic choices you must face when perusing the pet food aisle of your favorite store. "Wet" products have undergone some major improvements this year and may be a great choice for your kitty. Here’s what you need to know.

Jen Rice’s small Manhattan apartment is just big enough for her and both of her cats, so odor control in the small space is a top priority for Rice. Her pets’ veterinarian recommended multi-cat food to address her concerns. "The fiber in multi-cat food helps with litter box issues," explains the 26-year-old publicist. "I empty their boxes very regularly and noticed there was less in them when I switched to multi-cat."

You don’t want to eat out of foul-smelling dishes on dirty tables and neither does your cat. If you think that human concerns like cleanliness don’t cross a cat’s mind, think again. "One of my cats is quite finicky," says 32-year-old cat owner Amy Morgan of Brooklyn, N.Y. "When she started flat-out refusing her food, though, I couldn’t figure out why. A friend suggested I start cleaning her bowl after each meal. That did the trick – she started eating normally again."

A stroll down the pet food aisle of your favorite store these days might reveal products labeled with the word "prebiotics." You may not be familiar with these prebiotics, but once you learn of their potential for promoting good health, they could soon be on your shopping list radar.

One of my cats, Sweetie Pie, is now over 20 years old. According to age conversion charts, that means she’s at least 96 in human years. The black-and-white-furred wonder is far from slowing down, however. She still loves to play and flirt with my elderly male cat. She wakes me up each morning by energetically jumping on my head and butting me in the nose.